Introduction
The council fathers of Vatican II through the dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium taught that all the baptized participate in the three-fold munera (function) of Christ; they share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and royal functions (LG 10-13). In particular, the baptized (clergy and lay) share in Christ’s priestly function by offering prayers and praises to God (LG 10). The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “the whole Church is a priestly people. Through Baptism, all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ. This participation is called the ‘common priesthood of all the faithful” (CCC 1591). Recognizing this reality, the Church permits lay persons to exercise their common priesthood in various ways. This submission will explain a manner in which all the baptized exercise their priestly function as ministers of sacramentals and blessings according to the norm of Canon Law.
What is a Sacramental?
The law states, “sacramentals are sacred signs by which effects, especially spiritual effects, are signified in some imitation of the sacraments and are obtained through the intercession of the Church” (CIC 1166). They differ from sacraments, which are sacred signs and means instituted by Jesus Christ in order to sanctify people (c.840). There are 7 sacraments, while sacramentals are more numerous. Some sacramentals include rosaries, holy water, blessed palms, oils, bells, candles and ashes. They also include the various rites of worship in the Church like the rites of exorcism, dedication of a church or private chapel, and funerals. Royce R. Thomas explains that for sacramentals, “the grace is obtained through the intercession of the Church and not through the action itself. By expanding the definition from things or actions to the all-inclusive ‘signs,’ the Council indicated that every event in life can be sanctified. There is scarcely any proper use of a material thing which cannot be directed toward the sanctification of people and the glory of God (SC 61)” (Royce in Commentary on the Code of Canon Law 834). In short, sacramentals are holy signs through which we draw closer to God, experience spiritual benefits, and deepen our faith. It is through the Church, to whom the power of binding and loosing has been granted by Jesus Christ, that sacramentals are celebrated.
A blessing is also a type of sacramental. In the gospel, Jesus said, “bless those who curse you” (LK 6:28). The letters of St. Paul and St. Peter also mention that Christians are able to impart blessings (Rm 12:14; 1 Pt 3:9). By baptism, Christians are close to Christ; they are able to invoke God’s help, grace, and protection. This is the underlying principle according to which lay persons, exercising the common priesthood, are able to bless people, events, and certain objects. John Huels explains, “blessings are liturgical celebrations consisting of two parts: (1) the proclamation of the word of God and praise of God’s goodness and (2) the petition for God’s help. In the canonical tradition, two kinds of blessings are distinguished. Constitutive blessings are similar in their effects to consecrations and dedications because the place or thing so blessed becomes a place or thing set aside for divine worship (e.g. blessing of an oratory, blessing of chalice and paten… An invocative blessing has no such constitutive effect, and the place or things so blessed retain their secular character” (Huels in New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law 1404).
Lay Persons Celebrate Sacramentals And Blessings
Canon 1168 states, “the minister of sacramental is a cleric who has been provided with the requisite power. According to the norm of the liturgical books and to the judgment of the local ordinary lay persons who possess the appropriate qualities can also administer some sacramental” (CIC 1168). Both the Code of Canon Law and the liturgical book Book of Blessings are clear that when sacramentals are celebrated, the preferred minister is a cleric. In fact, sometimes the only valid minister will be a priest or deacon. However, in some cases, lay persons are permitted to celebrate sacramentals, including certain blessings. John Huels explains, “laymen and laywomen, in virtue of the universal priesthood, a dignity they possess because of their baptism and confirmation, may celebrate certain blessings, as indicated in the respective orders of blessings, by use of the rites and formularies designated for a lay minister. Such lay persons exercise this ministry in virtue of their office (for example parents on behalf of their children) or by reason of some special liturgical ministry or in fulfillment of a particular charge in the Church, as is the case in many places with religious [sisters] or catechists appointed by decision of the local Ordinary, after ascertaining their proper pastoral formation and prudence in the apostolate” (Huels in The Jurist 65, 342).
The Book of Blessings is the main liturgical book in which one finds the various blessings for persons, occasions, and things. It also notes those sacramentals and blessings at which lay persons may preside. Huels notes several of them: “blessings of parents before childbirth, a parson on occasion of a birthday, students and teachers, children, boats and fishing gear … prayer for meetings, and the Order for Visiting a Cemetery on All Souls Day (Huels in The Jurist 65, 343). In the interest of brevity, this article will only explain three sacramentals at which lay ministers may celebrate by canon law.
Blessing of A New Home
Most people are accustomed to their parish priest or deacon blessing their new home. However, the Book of Blessings permits lay persons to do it too. The order of the blessing is as follows: An Introduction with the Sign of the Cross; A Reading of the Word of God; Intercessions; Prayer of Blessing; Concluding Rite. There are key distinctions that must be observed when lay persons celebrate this blessing. First, during the Introductory Rite, the lay person omits the customary apostolic greeting or its equivalent “The Lord be with you.” This greeting is reserved for ordained ministers. Secondly, during the Prayer of Blessing, only clergycan say the prayers with hands outstretched. A lay minister must keep his or her hands joined while saying the prayer (no.673 Book of Blessings). A final observation is that the lay person can sprinkle holy water around the newly blessed home (no. 675 Book of Blessings).
Blessing Of The Christmas Manger Or Nativity Scene
Another blessing at which lay persons may preside is the blessing of the Christmas manger or Nativity scene. The order is very similar to the blessing of a new home; namely it includes: Introduction, Reading of God’s Word, Intercession, Prayer of Blessing, and Concluding Rite. The ritual book emphasizes that when the manger is set up in a home, “it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another family member” (no. 1545 Book of Blessings). One difference when this blessing is celebrated by lay persons concerns the Concluding Rite. When a priest or deacon concludes the celebration, he will bless the community in the usual manner by extending his hands, saying, “And may Almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and + the Holy Spirit.” (no. 1559 Book of Blessings). Since they are ordained ministers and share in sacred power, clergy are able to impart the Trinitarian blessing; they act in the person of Christ here are say “bless you all.” A lay person however, since they are not ordained ministers, conclude the celebration in a different manner. The lay minister concludes with the words, “May Christ our God enlighten our hearts and minds, now and forever,” while also signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross (no. 1560 Book of Blessings). For the lay minister, he or she invokes the Trinitarian blessing using inclusive language; he or she uses the term “our.” The linguistic distinction serves to differentiate the role of the ordained and non-ordained.
Rite Of Marriage
In the Church, the Rite of Marriage can be presided by a priest, deacon, and even a lay person. Huels explains, “the liturgical rite of marriage is not the sacrament but the sacramental. The ministers of the sacrament are the man and woman who consent to marry each other” (Huels in The Jurist 65, 346). Thus, under certain conditions, a lay person can preside over the Rite of Marriage when couples marry in the Church. However, a lay person can only celebrate this rite with express delegation of the diocesan bishop. In rare instances in which clergy are scarce, the diocesan bishop can grant the the faculty/authorization for a lay person to receive the consent of a couple in the name of the Church. The pertinent norm is found in Canon 1112 §1: “with the prior favorable opinion of bishops and after the permission of the Holy See has been obtained, the diocesan bishop can delegate lay persons to assist at marriages where priests or deacons are lacking.” The lay person selected for this role would receive suitable instruction prior to assisting couples in their marriage preparation and wedding liturgy. He or she would follow the Rite of Celebrating Marriage Before an Assisting Layperson found in the Marriage Ritual book.
This article has attempted to explain how lay persons can exercise their common priesthood through the celebrations of sacramentals and blessings. The usual ministers of sacramentals and blessings are clerics. In the absence of clergy, lay ministers may celebrate sacramentals, but only those explicitly prescribed by law. This includes the Rite of Matrimony with prior delegation by the bishop. Lay persons can celebrate blessings because in Christ, they are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Pt 2:9).
